## Why

The Page Mask and the Reading Ruler are two tools that help learners focus on a particular part of the text. The Reading Ruler, an electronic notecard, keeps learners visually tracking on the correct line, and the bottom edge of the Page Mask helps the learners stay on the correct line, similar to cutting a hole in a piece of paper. These two tools also build focus.

## Who

Easily distracted learners also fall into the group mentioned in the first lesson. Additionally, supporting language learners in grasping the content helps learners with dyslexia better decode the words and aids learners experiencing fluency challenges, to name just a few examples.

## When

Since the Page Mask and Reading Ruler help build focus and increase comprehension, the ideal time to introduce ReadSpeaker’s Page Mask and Reading Ruler is when content with important granular material is presented.

## How

A class demonstration is generally the best way to help learners with these tools.

### For the Page Mask in webReader.

- Open an HTML lesson (created using the “Create a File” tool in Brightspace) or any other page with the Listen player
- Click on Listen and let ReadSpeaker read a few lines
- Click on the Hamburger,
- Click on the Page Mask,
- Pull the Page Mask down the page as it is being read.
- You can increase or decrease the window size by clicking the plus or minus on the right-hand side of the Page Mask.
- Click the "X" to close the Page Mask.
- You can change the colors and transparency of the Page Mask by going to Settings which is also found under the Hamburger, . Once you are in Settings, click on the Book icon, , on the left side of the pop-up. Adjust your colors and transparency from this pop-up.

###

### For the Page Mask and the Reading Ruler in docReader

Open a document in docReader. If you need to refresh your knowledge on how to do this, please see the definitions page.

#### Classic View and Student View of New Learner Experience

- Click on the caret, , in the center of the top toolbar of docReader, which expands to show the lower toolbar.
- Click on the Page Mask, , or Reading Ruler, or Reading Ruler, which is toward the left side of the lower toolbar.
- Pull the Page Mask or Reading Ruler down the page as it is being read.
- You can increase or decrease the window size by clicking the plus or minus on the right-hand side of the Page Mask or Reading Ruler.
- Click the "X" to close the Page Mask or Reading Ruler.
- To adjust the color and transparency, click on Settings and scroll to the bottom. Click on Open below the heading Settings for Reading Tools.

#### New Content Experience and Instructor View of New Learner Experience

- Click on the caret, , located in the upper right-hand corner of docReader. This expands downward to show the remaining tools.
- Click on the Page Mask, or Reading Ruler, .
- Pull the Page Mask or Reading Ruler down the page as it is being read.
- You can increase or decrease the window size by clicking the plus or minus on the right-hand side of the Page Mask or Reading Ruler.
- Click the "X" to close the Page Mask or Reading Ruler.
- To adjust the color and transparency, click on Settings and scroll to the bottom. Click on Open below the heading Settings for Reading Tools.

### NOTES

- Remember, start the reading first and then start the page mask.
- On a document, you can move the Page Mask and the Reading Ruler down the page or keep them stationary and move the page up and down.
- You must move the Page Mask in webReader.

### Videos

#### webReader - Page Mask

#### docReader - Page Mask

#### docReader - Reading Ruler

Proceed to the Lesson Plan.

Proceed to the Lesson 1 Quiz